Another peek at our NEW look!

We gave you a sneak peek at our new logo in this post, and now we're going to reveal what the new homepage of the website will look like!

Taking my personality and love for rustic chic decor, country music, romance and chalkboards (I have one in my kitchen that I write an inspirational quote on daily), this is what my lovely and talented friend Ashley from Ashley & Malone created for the homepage.

I'm totally in love!!

Clear and easy tabs like "Meet Diane", "Services" and "Gallery" will give you information and insight on who I am, what Bride's Butler can do for you on your special day and a look back at some of our most memorable weddings.

We might be re-launching earlier than expected, but will definitely have much celebration on and around our 5th Anniversary on July 15th. Stay tuned to the blog,Twitter and Facebook for more updates on the re-brand and also on how we plan to keep you in the know about weddings, tips, trends and coordination services!

#Weddings on Twitter

We're on Twitter (@BridesButler) and often while executing Day of Coordination Services will send out a tweet or two of the wedding. I'll include pictures, updates and usually attach a hashtag so that my followers can, well, follow along. You must know though, that I always ask my clients first if they are comfortable with it.

Just this past weekend, I saw a tweet that was an RSVP to a wedding. At first, I'll admit, I was a little concerned. As a Wedding Coordinator, I do my best to aid my clients in staying true to traditions and proper wedding etiquette, but also know that times have changed and social media is a part of almost every one's life. I say almost everyone, because there's still a generation that doesn't use it (IE: Grandparents). You may beg to differ with me here, as even seniors are hip enough to tweet, pin and post - but when it comes to weddings; especially invitations, I suggest to follow the wishes of the couple.

If the invitation includes a self-addressed envelope with a pre-paid stamp, then you should fill out the reply card and send it the good ol' fashioned way. Including these pieces in their invite states that that's how the couple wants to be communicated with. Plus, invitations are quite expensive and adding a reply card with postage is an added expense that shouldn't go to waste.

Now, as I said before, modern times are here and we all need to get on the bandwagon - so if the couple is tech savvy (or wants to eliminate the cost of the reply card) they can request that their replies are sent via email (kimandkevin@gmail.com), phone or via Twitter. If the couple uses Twitter often, they might want to create a hashtag (#KimandKevinsWedding) for any tweets concerning their big day.

If the couple has a wedding website, they can include the URL in the invite and list the ways to RSVP there.  Note though, that you should only have 2 channels in which guests can give you a yay or nay...any more and you'll likely miss a few.

So, getting back to #weddings on Twitter - you can most definitely include your wedding on the popular social site like this Groom did (pictured), but I advise that you do with caution. You should be leaving the tweeting to others, because you should be enjoying your day as Hubs and Wifey. If you want your guests to tweet during your ceremony and reception, include that info in your programs. If you're really tech savvy, have a live stream of the tweets displayed on a screen in your reception venue. Like anything that is captured, these tweets will be a good reminder of the fun everyone had. Just be careful what you tweet (and this goes for Facebook too) - have respect for the couples privacy (not everyone was invited, so not everyone need the details), be courteous to the Bride (aka, post only flattering pictures) and refrain from using profanity - a wedding after all is a formal event - not a house party.

If you don't want everyone tweeting, you can say that as well in your program. Some couples aren't showy and don't want their special day posted to the masses whether it be on Twitter or Facebook. But, if you don't mind - perhaps you can ask a close friend or family member and enlist them as your "Tweet of Honor." Check out this article for more info on what I'm referring to.

So, to sum this all up - I suggest that you ask first and or follow the given instructions. If the RSVP doesn't say tweet your response, then don't. If you still want to tweet or post your attendance anyway, ask the couple first if it'd be okay to do so. Yes, Social Media is the future but, having proper social manners is not the past. At least not yet (here's hoping!)

Happy tweeting!

Facebook Wedding Etiquette

Facebook has more than 800 million active users. That's a lot of likes, wall posts, photo uploads and tags.
Like most things in life, there are certain rules to follow for certain tasks.
Do you know how to properly use Facebook during your planning process?

Here are some guidelines when using the popular social media site:



Announcing your engagement.

It's totally normal to want to shout it from the rooftops and Facebook is the perfect platform to do so. Update your status to "we're engaged" or "is gonna be a Mrs!" to tell all of your friends about the proposal. You can also upload a picture of your diamond, or if you've got pics or video of him popping the question, by all means share it.

Sharing some of the details.

Feel free to share your wedding date via a status update, but be sure to keep it simple and to the point. Not all of your 100+ friends on FB will be invited to your big day, so be a little sensitive to that. And of course, change your relationship status from "in a relationship" to "engaged!!"

A lot of Brides like to keep everyone in the know about their planning process, and again, feel free to do this with your status, but be sure not to go overboard with Bride Brain.

Sharing a countdown to your special day is okay too - just try to stick with the landmarks of one year, 6 months, 1 week and 1 day. Seeing a constant countdown for most, is annoying.

Proper etiquette would be that you don't post your Registry information online. Getting a gift for getting married is a privilege, and not a right. If people (guests) want to buy you something, they will ask you, your fiance, a family member or a friend.

After your wedding feel free to brag a little. Heck, brag a lot. Post your pictures, thank your guests and  change your relationship status from "engaged" to "MARRIED!"
Just make sure to keep everything positive, do not complain about guest behaviour, or how much your new mother-in-law got on your nerves.

Wrap up all your wedding talk within 6 months, or less. As much as you're stoked to now be a Mrs, there are other things that should be important in your life as well.

Invitations.

Do not by any means invite friends/family/co-workers to your wedding using Facebook. Send out a proper invite with an RSVP card for them to reply.

Bridal Showers, Stag & Does and Bachelorette/Bachelor Parties can have Facebook Event pages to keep everyone in the loop, but we still advise that you send out proper invites or personal emails to all invited.



Incorporate FB into your Bridal Shower with customized cookies!

 Vendors.

Use Facebook to help you find vendors - that is if you don't have a Wedding Planner. And be sure to "like" the Fan Pages of the vendors you book with. Not only does it show support, but you just might see your wedding crop up in their status updates or albums.

While we're chatting about vendors, make note that it is a big no-no to post anything negative about your vendors through the social media site. We know that planning a wedding can be stressful, but please do not use Facebook to bad mouth anyone. Send an email or pick up the phone and make a call instead if you're not happy with their services/products.

On the day of.

Do not log on Facebook on your wedding day. You can change your status and upload photos the day after, or even when you get back from your honeymoon. Enjoy the day and stay offline.

Posting as a guest.

Most of your guests will post pictures from your big day on Facebook and tag you in the pictures. If this bothers you tell your friends that. Some people are private and do not want memories from their special day to go viral. There's no harm in placing a small note on your ceremony programs that you wish to be shown any pictures prior to posting - or that pictures simply aren't posted. Remember though, you can't control what others post, but you can ask - there's nothing wrong with asking and making that request.

However, as a guest - do your best to be respectful to the newlyweds and only post pictures that display them in their best light. Do the same for members of the wedding party - no one wants to see the Best Man making out with the Grooms sister. Tisk, tisk.

Now, go on....log on to Facebook and "like" us - The Bride's Butler.

Welcome 2011!

Happy New Year!

We hope that you had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones.

At this time we want to extend a big "thank you" to all of our Facebook Fans that took part in our "12 Days of Sharing" contest. It was a great way to let others know about us, but also to thank you for your support in 2010. We hope that the Fan Page and our Blog are keeping you intriqued and up to date about what's going on with us, with the wedding industry and with other local vendors.

The winner of the contest was Amanda Knight Kinnard. She introduced us to 12 new members. Thanks!


With each new year, we like to make goals for the following months ahead. This year we plan to:

1) Continue to assist Brides & Grooms with their wedding planning needs. Our popular and affordable "Day of Coordination" package is fabulous for DYI Brides that want to plan all their own details but have a professional onsite to execute their ideas and vision. You can't be 2 places at once.

2) Keep on blogging. We post every 5 days and will continue to do so. If there is something you'd like us to blog about please send us an email. We'd love to answer your questions and discuss topics you want to read about regarding weddings and special events!

3) Friendor Spotlights. Friendors are Vendor Friends of The Bride's Butler - more on this in our next post. This year we're going to try our very best to feature a selected friendor once a month on the blog. Stay tuned, this feature will kick off in March.

4) Gain more Facebook Fans and followers on Twitter. We'd love you to join us on social media, and be sure to tell your friends!

We have other goals that we'd like to meet - but those 4 are our top "must do's" - and we feel confident that we will be able to achieve them.We've enjoyed our start into the world of Wedding Planning (we began in '08) and we look forward to what lies ahead this year and the many that follow.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

12 Days of Sharing

This is a special post to get you involved in our

"12 Days of Sharing" promotion! Starbucks is having a promotion from December 1st to 12th, so we thought that we would too!

If you're already a fan of ours on Facebook, then you probably know about this contest - but if you're not yet....what are you waiting for?!? (Ahem, a good bribe perhaps? Well, this is it.)

For existing fans of The Bride's Butler on Facebook:

All you have to do is tell your friends and family to officially 'like' us on Facebook and you could win a $20 gift card. As the winner you get to choose if you want your gift card to be from the LCBO, Beer Store or Starbucks. To be entered to win, you must have your friend or family member write on the page wall that you sent them. For example "Stacey Smith sent me" or "Referred by Stacey Smith" and volia, you (a.k.a Stacey Smith) will be entered to win the gift card of choice. The winner will be announced on the Facebook Fan Page on Monday, December 13th.

To make it even easier for you, copy and paste this in a message to your friends:

Hi,
I’m a fan of The Bride’s Butler on Facebook and you should be too! You could win a Starbucks gift card by supporting this Hamilton based Wedding & Event company. Just “Like” the page and write on the wall that I sent you and you’re entered to win!

Chances of winning depend on how many people you tell about us. So start sharing, you’ve got 12 days to spread the love!


For the newbies:

If you've been referred to our Facebook Fan Page between Dec 1-12, you are a NEW fan. Let us know who sent you and you could win a Starbucks gift card. There are 1 a day to be won, so as long as you 'like' us between December 1st to 12th, you're good for an entry. All 12 winners will be announced on the wall following the promotion on December 13th, 2010.

Questions? You can reach us through email, info@bridesbutler.ca, or @Bridesbutler on Twitter or message us on Facebook.


Thanks for supporting The Bride's Butler - and good luck!


Happy Holidays!


Rules, Regs and all the legal mumbo jumbo:
Contest starts at 7:30am EST December 1st and ends December 12th at midnight (12am EST).
Existing fans are encouraged to promote the Fan Page and will be rewarded with a contest entry for a $20 gift card from their chosen vendor - LCBO, The Beer Store or Starbucks. New fans are anyone that 'likes' the Fan Page during Dec 1 -12 and posts who referred them. Only by posting on the wall are they eligible to win 1 of the daily prizes of a Starbucks gift card. There are 12 Starbucks cards in total. The Starbucks gift card is valued at $5. All prizes are as promoted. Prizes can not be exchanged for cash. If the 'existing fan' gift card winner is American, a substitute prize will be awarded at equal value.

It's cool to be a Follower!

 

Come on, follow us...you know you want to!

Follow this blog for your chance to win Bride & Groom T-Shirts!!!

It's so simple to enter this oh-so-awesome contest....just become a follower of our blog, and ta da...entered!

We'll randomly pick one of our Blog Follwers and announce the winner on March 5th in our blog post,

on our Facebook Fan Page and on Twitter.

Are you following us on Twitter? Tweet with us! @BridesButler

What about our Facebook Fan Page? Are you a Fan??

We've set a goal of 100 by Easter weekend...so, please, hop to it! LOL!

To all of our current fans on FB, and followers of this blog and on Twitter - thank you for your support.

We appreciate you sharing your time with us, and for telling your friends and Brides-to-Be about us!

Happy New Year!!

Welcome 2010!

It's a new year. A fresh start? Or continued excitement? What's the beginning of your year looking like? Are you planning a wedding? Attending a wedding? What about resolutions? Got any?

As a bride, you probably have a few - check out the article on The Knot entitled "10 Resolutions for every Bride". for a few recommended resolutions.You may want to add some of them to your list of 'goals', or you may just find it a funny read. Here's hoping that whatever tasks you choose to add to your resolution list, you accomplish them, cause everyone loves the sweet smell of success.

Speaking of success, The Bride's Butler has a few goals for 2010.

1. Blogging! We want to keep our readers/followers/fans and clients up to date on what's happening within our company and the wedding & event industry. We aim to post every 5 days or so.
2. To have over 200 Facebook Fans by peak wedding season, June 2010. If you're a fan, thanks for the love...if you're not a fan yet, why not?

3. Keep offering clients the best service we can at the most affordable  rates! We are continuously working with other wedding/event vendors to give you exclusive rates and extras not offered without a referral. Saving you money  is just as important to us as it is to you.

4. And of course, this year, we want to continue to get noticed!! We want The Bride's Butler to be 1 of the top 3, or better yet, the only Wedding & Event Planning company you think of when dreaming, thinking and planning your wedding in the Hamilton and surrounding areas.

Look for our ad in the Wedding Guide 2010 by Toronto Life Magazine, and our listing in Today's Bride featuring WPIC certified planners.

We hope that you reach your goals and that we reach ours as well. In fact, if we can work together to reach our goals, that's even better!

In order to reach your goals, you'll have to have a plan with set tasks and due dates. You should do research - and lot's of it.

For all you brides who got engaged over the holidays and are just starting your wedding planning - we recommend that you take your time at the Bridal Shows, ask lots of questions and try not to forget that a wedding isn't about money, or flowers, or colour schemes - it's about the love you have for another and how you will share one of the most important days of your lives together expressing your commitment to each other among the presence of friends and family.

Here's to a fantastic year ahead!